Apparatus for treating air.



No. 810,450. PATENTED JAN. 23, 1906. F. WHITE.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING AIR. APPLICATION FILED SEPTA, 190s. RENEWED NOV. 11, 1905.

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No. 810,450. PATENTED JAN. 23, 1906.

F. WHITE.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING AIR. APPLICATION FILED 54mm, 1903. RENEWED NOV.11. 1905.

BEST AVAILABLE C629? No.810,450. PATENTED JAN. 23, 1906.

. F. WHITE.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING AIR. APPLICATION FILED SEPTA, 1903. RENEWED NOV.11, 1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK WHITE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO REGEN- ERATED COLD AIR COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING AIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, 1906.

v Application'filed September 4, 1903. Renewed November 11, 1905- Serial No. 286,790.

within which the Water-feed and water-return pipes are shown inclosed. Fig. 2 is a transverse view, mainly in section, at a line corresponding to 2 2 of Fig. 1 and illustrates particularly the arran ement of antiswirling plates on the inside of the water-wheel casing. Fig. 3- is a transverse view, mainly in section, at a line corresponding to line 3 3 of Fig. 1 and shows particularly the construction of the li'q uid-distributer. Fig. 4 is a transverse view, partly in section, at a line correspondin to 4 4 of Fig. 1 and shows particularly the iafiie-plates which prevent liquid from spattering out through the. air-escape passage at the lower end of the appa ratus. Fig. 5 is a view, partly in central vertical section, of the lower end portion of my apparatus, but shows said baffle-plates in side elevation. In this view the lower end of the cylinder is lifted out of operative position in relation to the baflle-plates, and the baffleplates are left out of their normal position in relation to the pan. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing my apparatus connected with a water-supply tank and a motor-driven pum Fi 7 1s a central vertical section'of one orm o my invention and shows an installation thereof in which a part of the apparatus is in a lower and the remainderinan upperroom. f

The objects of this invention are to perfect the practical o eration and commercial desirability of t e apparatus shown my pending application.

In the drawings, 1 is an open-endedcylin der or main casing. 2 is a transverse bridge-piece ha acentral ring 3, preferably slightly raise above the upper end of cylinder 1. 'Bridge-piece' 2 is made fast tothe upper end portion of cylinder 1, which near its lower end is provided with a transverse open bridge-piece4, made fast to cylinder 1 and having a central ring 5.

ter or other liquid to swirl continuously around within the casing, and so retard the 6 is a water-wheel casing, the upper por-' tion of which is vented by the perforations 7 to prevent the formation of a vacuum within the water-wheel casing above the water therein, and this I find'in practice to be an important matter.

8 is a water-wheel of any suitable construction made fast at 9 to the central vertical shaft. 10, which is partly within the waterwheel casing and extends. downwardly through the discharge-port 11 of the waterwheel casing and through said ring 5 to ballbearing mechanism 12 at its lower end, this ball-bearing device being mounted on a vertical. bolt 13, the upper flange 14 of which clamps against the upper side of a horizontal open bridge-piece 15, having an annular trough 16 in its upper side, into which trough the lower end of cylinder 1 is set and therein fastened by suitable fasteners 17.

Discharge-port 11 of the water-wheel casing is made, preferably, circular and sets in ring 3 With its lower end opening into the cup 30, which forms the body of the liquid-distributer. The verticabwalls of cup 30 are 0 posed to the lower end walls of the dis- 0 argeort 11, a slight s ace being left between t e opposed walls 0 the cup and of the discharge-port for admission of air, so that no vacuum can be formed within the distributer to impede the proper continuous outflow therefrom of the water or other liquid falling from the water-Wheel casing through discharge-port 11 into the distributer.

I find it important to prevent the water from swirling continuously around within the water-wheel casing in order to secure a continuous and uniform discharge of water or liquid from that casin and I accordingly provide the interior of t e water-wheel casmg with one or more, preferably four, antiswirling plates 18, theselates extending upwardly within the cham er of the waterwheel casin from underneath the waterwheel and f rom the inner end of the discharge-port 11 and within the waterwheel casing, preferably well u the sides of the Water-w eel,'the rotation of which, were it not for the plates 18, would cause the wadirect. and continuous outflow of the liquid I through the discharge-port 11. .r

It is desirable to drive shaft 10 at a very considerable rate of speed, for the shaft car ries an air-fan 45, which preferably sucks air downwardly through the apparatus and then expels the air from the lower end portion thereof; but I find in practicce that it is highly desirable to rotate the liquid-distributer somewhat slowly in order to prevent the liquid from being thrown mostly against the main casing 1 and also to revent the water from being thrown over t e top of the easorder to secure a uniform distribution of the Water within casing 1 and to prevent the distributer from throwing the water out through the u per end of easing 1, I provide the distri uter with radial tubular distributing-arms 31, preferably four, as shown in Fig. 3, each arm having a series of discharge-nozzles 32 and the tubular arms 0 ening into the cup-shaped body portion 0 the distributer, which is formed with an annulus 33, through which main shaft 10 passes in ver slight frictional contact with the inner wal of the annulus. To make it clear in Fig.- 1 that the distributer is loose on shaft 10, I have shown in Fig. 1 a slight space between the inner wall of annulus 33 and the shaft. The lower end of annulus 33 rests on a washer 34, tight on the main shaftand su ported on a collar 35, which is pinned to tfie shaft at 36.- By this construction I obtain the rotation of the distributing-arms 31 of the distributer at a much lower rate of speed than that at which shaft 10 is rotated, and I conse uently prevent the liquid within the.

arms om being carried un uly toward the outer ends of the radial distributing-arms by centrifugal force, and so obtainwithin the arms a practically uniform supply of liquid continuous discharge upon a series of plates 40, which 6o stated, casing 1 and plates 40 are cylindrica are set verticalli on the transverse open frame 4 and whic are of considerable len th and are arranged at distances apart casifii-g 1. The nozzles 32 extend downwar y from the under side of the radial distributing-arms, and this arrangement is important to prevent upward spattering of the water.

When the distributer operates to distribute the liquid over and on the upper ends of the plates, the liquid then flows down film-like on-the plates and through the interspaces and frame 4 over fan 45 and between the wings thereof and through the open frame 15 u' on the cone-shaped deflector 50, as exp ained below. Plates 40 may be of any desired form and so, also, may be casing 1; but in the preferred construction, as alread- Consequently I prefer to make the plates 40 .in the or'm of open-ended sheet-metal cylinders, andthese are held stationary at distances apart by a series of lateral studs 41,

which are clearly shown in Fig. 3, the outer end of one of the studs being fastened in cylrelation to casing 1.

Beneath the lower ends of plates 40 I mount the air-fan 45, fast on shaft 10. For the reason that it is practically easier to ull air through a conduit than it is to pus it throughthe conduit, fan 45 is shown as a suction-fan and is mounted at the lowjer. end of easing 1 within the same. This air-fan sucks or pulls the air through the upper open end of easing 1 and through the interspaces between plates 40, thereby causing the air to move over liquid distributed on the plates and descending the same to Wash, purlfy, or impregnate the air, as may be desired, and

then expels the air from the lower portion of .the apparatus.

When the liquid passes the fan in its down- Ward descent, it is preferably directed upon the cone 50, which is supported by a frame 51, which rests in the bottom of the li uid-receiving an 52. Within an 52 t ere is mounts a bowl-shaped de ector 53, having I a large perforation in its bottom for the es-' cape of the li uid from the deflector 50, the liquid falling st into the bowl-shaped airdeflector 53 and passing through the waterescape opening 54.into'pan 52. The air-deflector 53 passes outwardly and upwardly above the rim of an 52 and in con un ction with the outwar y and upwardly curved flange 55, which is mounted at the lower end of casing 1. and forms an air-discharge space, (indicated by the arrow 56 in Fig. 1.) The air-fan forces the air downwardly out of the open-ended casing 1 upon the cone-like coverin 50 of the frame 51. by the cone 50 outwardly from the a paratus between the deflector 53 and the ange 55. The baflielates 70 each stand crosswise to the incline vanes 45 of the air-fan. (See Fig. 6.) It is important that as much air as possible should be passed through the ma chine each minute of its operatlon, and it is equally important that there should be no outward spattering of the fluid thrown ofl b the fan over and between the vanes of which the fluid falls. clination of the vanes of the fan and of the baffle-plates accomfplishes this object. To prevent the water om being spattered out through the air-escape assage 56, (which The air is deflected would cause a rain to fal on the heads of 0c: 1

cupants or furniture within the room,) I it lmportant to mount within or at the airpassage 56that is, at the lower end of casing 1'a series of baffle-plates 70, against the 'under sides of which any outwardly and upand arrangement of baffle lates herein illustrated I find to be one W ich revents the outward spattering of water an at the same time secures the outward escape of the air. The baffle-plates 70 as now arranged are secured at their upper ends, as plainly shown in Figs. 1 aud t, to the rim of the frame-piece 15 and are inclined downwardly, overla ping one another at distances apart. The ower ends of the baffle-plates are in the present form made narrow enough to permit the lowerportions of the bafltlelates to project down 1nto the bowl-sha ed eflector 53. The use of baflie-plates at t e air-escape passage of the present form of apparatus, and comparable devices, is novel and important for reasons stated. I find that the baffle-plates are most elfective when they are inclined as shownthat is, in a direction which is o posite to the direction of the inclinationo the blades of the air-fan 45.

I have met a difficulty in mounting at the air-escape a device which will turn back the outwardly-spattering water withoutinterfering with the free and continuous exit of the air; but the means described I find to be free from objection.

Water of condensation forms on the outer surface of main casing 1 and on both surfaces of the outer casing A, which I prefer to use. This outer casing A is an open-ended cylinder, which it is desirable to use in installations where ornamental effects are desired. The bottom of the trough 16 in frame-piece 15 is formed with a number .of upwardly-extending lugs 71, on which the lower end of casing 1 rests, and from the bottom of trough 16, between lugs 71, a number of depending discharge-tubes 72 extend downwardly to permit the escape of water from the trough in the pan 52. Considerable fluid runs down the inner wall of easing 1 into trough 16, so

that there is a pretty constant flow'of water downwardly through the discharge-tubes 72. I find in practice that the air-current from the fan tends to throw water falling out of trough 72 downwardly and outwardly, so that there is a tendency to spatter outwardly from the apparatus unless the discharge-tubes 72 are used to carry the fluid well below the under edge of the casing and even then unf less the baffie-plates 70 are also used that the Ward spattering from the apparatus' The air-fan for the best results should be wholly within the casing 1, which should extend somewhat below the fan, and to prevent all noticeable outward spattering from the apparatus it is very necessary (for most uses of it) to use both the trough with the dischargenozzles and also the baflie-plates (or equivalent functional devices) below the lower end of easing 1 and in the air-escape passage. Water of condensation which flows down the walls of casing A into the trough formed between the inner wall of flange 55 and the outer wall of main casing 1 escapes into the trough 16 through suitable perforations at 73. Casing A rests on flange 55 and is laterally supported by screw-studs 74, which extend from the inner side of casing to main casing 1. s

p The apparatus above described is commonly installed with its upper end a little distance below the ceiling of a room, and for neatness of appearance and economy of floorspace I now in accordance with one feature of my present invention mount the pan 52 which supports the other described parts of the apparatus on a vertical tubular standard 80, within which the liquid-supply conduit 81 is led to the water-jet nozzle 82, which directs the impelling current of liquid against the water-wheel to drive it. The liquid-escape conduit 83 is also within the tubular support 80, and its upper end instead of entering directly into panj52 enters the chamber of a block 84:, the chamber opening on its under side at 85 into the pan and uite near to the bottom of the pan, so that w en there is a little water in the pan a water seal for the escape-conduit 83 is formed, as indicated in Fig. 1. The purpose of sealing the waterescape conduit is to prevent the air driven downwardly by the air-fan from escaping except through the passage 56that is, the seal prevents any of the downwardly-driven air from going out through the water-escape conduit 83. In general practice the water-escape conduit 83 leads to an ice-water tank T, from which the water-supply conduit 81 eX- tends to a pump P and thence to a nozzle 82, as indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 6. If air were to be driven down into the ice-tank through the water-escape conduit, the economy of the apparatus would be diminished, because the air so driven into the ice-water tank would lower the temperature more or less and increase the rapidity with which ice were melted.

The foregoing apparatus may be varied in form without departure from the several features of my invention, and the apparatus may be used for many purposes.

it will act to cool the air drawn through the apparatus and to purify it, and-the cooled and purified alr 1n the room Willbe kept in If the apparatus be supplied with ice-water or brine,

motion to the comfort and health of occupants. Moreover, humidity maybe lessened. On the other hand, by running hot or warm water through the apparatus under different conditions the apparatus may be used for humidifyir g the air in mills and other places where a humidified atmosphere is desired.

It is commercially important that my apparatus should operate as silently as possible, especially in oflices, hospitals, restaurants, stores, living-rooms, and the like, and it is for this reason that the concentric cylinders and other parts are mounted in fixed relation one to another, so that there will be no rattling of parts when the machine is in operation. For the same reason I fix a lining 100,

of felt or other sOund-deadener, on that portion of the main casing which is opposite the outer ends of the blades of the air-fan, so that the water which the blades hurl against that portion of the main casing when the machine is in operation makes but little or no noise thereon. For like reason the outer ends of the tubular distributing-arms are closed,- as shown, so that the fluid oing through the apparatus is not by said distributing arms urled against the o posed wall of the main casing, as would be t e case if the arms were openat their outer ends; butin this connection the closed ended radial distributingarms are (preferable, because if they were open-ende they would throw the fluid against the op osed wall of the main casing, so that it would spatter outwardly of the machine. It is of the utmost importancetorevent any and all outwardly spattering rom the apparatus, whether it is used for cooling'or purifying air in rooms or for hu-. midifying 1n mills. The apparatus is intended for overhead use, as a general rule, and It would be a serious objection to have the machine spatter fluid going through it out on the occupantsand furniture, and in humidi ing uses the spattering, would be objectiona le, because it would result in producing uneven humidity in the room, wherein evenness of humidit without the falling of particles of water is esired for the best results. A lurality of the fluid or liquid escapes or ischarge-nozzles 32 are rovidedfor each radial distributing-arm between its outer and inner end, so that the fluid going: through, the machine may be evenly. distrib-" uted over and between the upright. cylinders or lates. If there were no escapes on'the' ra ial arms .exc'e t,[for examp1e, at their} .outer ends, centril i aaaewwidti fluid to be hurled therefromand no feYfi1ii S I .tribution of fluid could besecuredson the. joy

inders or plates 40-, Even distribution'is;

important. 2

By installing the' 'ap ara'tils proper nearthe ceilings of rooms t e more vitlated air at the ceiling is drawn into contact with the fluid golng through the machine, and the v inders in. tet eture of the liquid going through the conduits, so that the pedestals themselves act to a certain extent as air warmers or coolers, and

when cold fluid is going through the pipes the outer surfaces of the pedestals receive a certain amount of moisture from the air and in a measure aid the apparatus proper in dryin the air.

, i find in practice that both the baffle-plates 70 in the space between the two air-deflecting flanges 53 and 55 and the downwardlyextending fluid-escapetubes 72 are important in preventing the air-suction fan 45from blowing fluid into the outer air. The tubes 72- drain the trough 16, and the baffle-plates prevent fluid from being blown out through the space between the flanges 53 and 55. In

' apparatus of this kind it is important that no liquid should be thrown out on persons or goods.

Motor M and ump P are operatively connected by suita 1e interworkm gears, as at G. The water-wheel may be riven in any other suitable manner than that shown, and by the term water-wheel I 'mean to includeyany suitable'motor device for driving shaft 10.

I do not herein claim the water-Wheel casing, as the same forms thesubject-matter of 1 my pending application, Serial N 0. 206,006, filed May 2, 1904, for United States Letters Patent.

What I claim is 1. The combination of a vented motor-.

wheel casing havin interior antiswirling plates; a motor-whee within said casing an ast on a shaft, the casing having a liquidesca e at its lower end; means for directing a jflui jet against said motor-wheel to rotate the same and said shaft; a liquid distributer loose on saidsliaft but in frictional connection therewith, and thereby driven at a speed less than that of the motor-wheel, said distributer havin a cup-like portion into which the';liquid-disc arge of the motor-casing dischar es, and also having a plurality of-radial, en thwise-chambered distributing-arms provide with liquid-escapes on their under sides; a series of concentric cylinders mount- .ed' endwise at the liquid-escape side of said distributin -arms means for keeping said cylother; an air-fan fixed on said shaft, the cylinders being between said distributing-arms and said fan; an open-ended main casing extenor to said cylinders; means for supportm said motor-casing in fixed relation to an en ed position relatively to each of said main casing;

extending outwardly from the casing; an airdeflector extending outwardly from the cas ing and mounted at a distance from said flange, thereby forming a lateral air-escape from the main casing; a liquid-receiving an below the maincasing,,sa id flange and de ector; a fluid-supply conduit to said jet; a fluidescape conduit from said dpan a trap for said fluid-escape conduit; an a series of baffleplates mounted in the air-esca e and severally inclined crosswise to the lades of the air-fan.

2. The combination of a vented motorwheel casing havin interior antiswirling lates; a motor-wheel within said casing and ast on a shaft, the casing having a liquidescape at its lower end; means for directing a fluid-jet against said motor-wheel to rotate the same and said shaft; a liquid-distributer loose on said shaft but in frictionalconnection therewith, and thereby driven at a speed less than that of the motor-wheel, said distributer having a cup-like portion into which the liquid-discharge of the motor-casing dischar es, and also having a plurality of radial engthWise-chambered distributing-arms provided with liquid-escapes on their under sides; a series of concentric cylinders mount- ,ed endwise at the liquid-escape side of said distributing-arms; means for keeping said cylinders in fixed position relatively to each other; an air-fan fixed on said shaft, the cylinders being between said distributing-arms and said fan; an open-ended main casing exterior to said cylinders; means for supporting said motor-casing in fixed relation to an end means for securing said cylinders in fixed relation to said main casing; the distributer, cylinders and air-fan being within the main casing; an air-deflecting flange extending outwardly from the main casing; an air-deflector extendingoutwardly from the main casing and mounted at a distance from said flange, thereby forming a lateral air-escape from the main casing; a liquid-receivin an below the main casing, said flange and diaflector; a fluid-supply C0111 duit to said jet; a fluid-escape conduit from said pan; a tra for said fluid-escape conduit; and a series 0 bafflelates mounted in the air-esca e and several y inclined crosswise'to the bla es of the air-fan; and atubular pedestal on which the pan is mounted and Within which said two conduits are contained.

3. The combination of a vented motorwheel casing havin interior antiswirling plates; a motor-whee within said casing and fast on a shaft, the casing having a liquidescape at its lower end; means for directing a fluid-jet against said motor-wheel to rotate the same and said shaft; a liquid-distributer loose on said shaft but in frictional connem tion therewith, and thereby driven at a speed less than thatof the motor-wheel, said distributer having a cup-like portion into which the liquid-discharge of the motor-casing discharges, and also having a plurality f radial,lengthwise-chanlbered distributing-anus provided with liquid-escapes on their under sides; a series of concentric cylinders mounted endwisc at the liquid-escape side of said distributing-arms; means for keeping said cylinders in fixed position relatively to each other; an air-fan fixed on said shaft, the cylinders being between said distributing-arms and said fan; an open-ended main casing exterior to said cylinders; means for supporting said motor-casing in fixed relation to an end of said main casing; means for securing said cylinders in fixed relation to said main casing; the distributer, cylinders and air-fan being Within the main casing; an air-deflecting flange extending outwardly from the main casing; an air-deflector extending outwardly from the main casing and mounted a distance from said flange, thereby forming a lateral air-escape from the main casing; a liquid-receiving pan below the main casing, said flange and deflector; a fluid-supply conduit to said jet; a fluid-esca e condult from said pan; a tra for said flui escape conduit; and a series 0 baflielates mounted in the airescape and severa 1y inclined crosswise to the blades of the air-fan; an o en-ended, outer casing extending from said flhnge beyond the farther end of the main casin and means for holding the outer casing in fixed relation to the main casing.

4. The combination of a vented motorwheel casing havin interior antiswirlin lates a motor-whee within said casing an ast on a shaft, the casing having a liquidescape at its lower end; means for directmg a fluid-jet against said motor-wheel to rotate the same and said shaft; a liquid-distributer loose on said shaft but in frictional connection therewith, and thereby driven at a speed less than that of the motor-wheel, said distributer having a cup-like portion into which the liquid-discharge of the motor-casing discharges, and also having a plurality of radial, lengthwise-chambered distributing-arms provided with liquid-escapes on their under sides a series of concentric cylinders mounted endwise at the liquid-escape side of said distributing-arms means for keeping said cylinders in fixed position relatively to each other; an air-fanfixed on said shaft, the cylinders being between said distributing-arms and said fan; an open-ended main casing exterior to said cylinders; means for supporting said motorcasing in fixed relation to 'an end of said main casing; means for securing said cylinders in fixed relation to said mam casing; the distributer, cylinders, and air-fan being within the main casing; an air-deflecting flange extending outwardly from the main casin an air-deflector'extending outwardly from the main casing and mounted a distance from said flange, thereby forming a lateral airescape firom the main'casing a liquid-receiving pan below the main casing, said flange and deflector; a fluid-supply conduit to said jet; a fluid-escape conduit from said pan; a trap for said fluid-escape conduit; and a series of baffle-plates mounted in the air-escape and severally inclined crosswise to the blades of the air-fan; a sound-deadener on that portion of the main casing which is opposed to the outer ends of the air-fan.

5. The combination of a vented motorwheel' casing havin interior antiswirling lates a motor-whee within said casing and ast on a-Eshaft, the casing having a liquid.

esca e at its lower end; means for directing a flui -jet against said motor-wheel to rotate the same and said shaft; a liquid-distributer loose on said shaft but in frictional connection therewith, and thereby driven at a speed less than that of the motor-wheel, said distributer having a cup-like portion into which the liquiddischarge of the motor-casing dis charges, and also having a plurality of radial, lengthwise-chambered distributing-arms provided with liquid-escapes on their under sides a series of concentric cylinders mounted endwise at the liquid-escape side of said distributing-arms means for keeping said cylinders in fixed ositionv relatively to each other; an air-fan ixed on said shaft, the cylinders being between said distributing-arms and said fan; an open-ended main casing exterior to said cylinders; means for supporting said motor-casing in fixed relation to an end of said main casin means for securing said cylinders in fixed relation to said main casing; the distributer, cylinders, and air-fan being within said main casin an air-deflecting flange extending outward y from the main casing; an air-deflector extending outwardly from the main casing and mounted a distance from said flange, thereby forming a lateral airescape from the main casing; a liquid-receiving pan below the main casing, said flange and deflector; a fluid-supply conduit to said jet; a fluid-escapeconduit from said an; a trap for said. fluid-escape conduit; and a series of baflie-plates mounted in the air-escape and severally inclined crosswise to the blades of the air-fan the main casing having a fluidescape hole through its wall into the space between the opposed walls of the main casing and flange.

6. The combination of a vented motorwheel, casing having interior antiswirling plates; a motor-wheel within said casing and ast on a shaft, the casing having a liquidesca e at its lower end; means for directing a flui -jet against said motor-wheel to rotate the same and said shaft; a liquid-distributer loose on said shaft but in frictional connection therewith, and thereby driven at a speed less than that of the motor-wheel, said distributer having a cup-like portion into which the liquid-discharge of the motor-casing discharges, and also havin a plurality of radial, a

lengthwise-chambered istributing-arms provided with liquidescapes on their under sides; a series of concentric cylinders mounted endwise at the liquid-escape side of said distributing-arms; means for keeping said cylinders in fixed position relatively to each other; an air-fan fixed on said shaft; the cylinders being between said distributing-arms and said fan; an open-ended main casing exterior to said cylinders; means for supporting said motor-casing in fixed relation to an end of said casing; means for securing said cylinders in fixed relation to said main casing; the distributer, cylinders, and air-fan being within the main casin an air-deflecting flange extending outwardly from the; main casing; an airdeflector extending outwardly from the main casing and mounted a distance from said flange, thereby forming a lateral air-escape from the main casing; a liquid-receiving pan below the main casing, said flange and deflector; a fluid-supply conduit to said jet; a fluid-escape conduit from said pan; a trap for said fluid-escape conduit; and a series of baffle-plates mounted in the air-escape and severally inclined crosswise to the blades of the air-fan, the motor-wheel being near the upper end of the main casing; and the fan being a suction-fan whereby air is drawn into the upper end of the main casing and sucked downwardly over films of fluid gravitating down the walls of the upright cylinders.

7. The combination of a vented motorwheel casing having interior antiswirling plates; a motor-wheel within said casing and fast on a shaft, the casing having a liquid-escape at its lower end; means for directing a fluid-jet against said motor-wheel to rotate the same and said shaft; a liquid-distributer loose on said shaft but in frictional connection therewith, and thereby driven at a speed less than that of the motor-wheel, said distributer havin a cup-like portion into which the liquid-disc arge of the motor-casing discharges, and also having a plurality of radial, lengthwise-chambered distributing-arms provided with liquid-escapes on their under sides; a series of concentric cylinders mounted endwise on the liquid-esca e side of said distributing-arms; means for lieeping said cylinders in fixed fipiosition relatively to each other; an air-fan ed on said shaft, the cylinders being between said distributing-arms and said fan; an open-ended main casing exterior to said cylinders; means for supporting said motor-casing in fixed relation to an end of said main casing; means for securing said cylinders in fixed relation to said main casing; the distributer, cylinders, and air-fan being within the main casing; an air-deflecting flange extending outwardly from the main casing; an air-deflector extending outwardly from the main casing and mounted a distance from said flange, thereby forming a lateral air-escape from the main casing; a liquid-receiving pan below the main casing, said flange and deflector; a fluid-supply conduit to said jet; a fluid-escape conduit from said pan; a trap for said fluid-escape conduit; and aseries of baffle-plates mounted in'the air-escapes and severally inclined crosswise to the blades of the air-fan, the fluid-escape of the motor-casing extending into the cup-like portion of the distributer but out of contact therewith.

8. The combination of a fluid-supply tank; a motor; a pump driven thereby; a pan; a fluid-escape conduit from the pan into the tank; an air-treating apparatus mounted above said pan, and comprising a ventedmotor-wheel casing; a motor-wheel within said casing; a shaft-on which the motor-wheel is fast; a fluid-distributer loose on said shaft but driven by frictional connection therewith, and below the motor-wheel casing, the latter discharging into the distributer and the motor-wheel casing being provided with interior antiswirling plates; a series of openended, vertical sheet-metal cylinders fixed at distances apart; a main casing; an air-suction fan fast on said shaft and below the lower ends of said cylinders; a tubular standard on the upper end of which said pan is mounted; and a' conduit from said pump to the motor Wheel casing and discharging pumped fluid against the wheel to rotate it, both conduits being within the tubular standard b 9. In air-cooling apparatus, a main casing an open motor wheel casing supporting frame on its upper end; a motor-casing on said frame; a motor-wheel within said casing a shaft on which the motor-wheel is fixed; a fluid-distributer loose on said shaft but in frictional connection therewith; a collar fixed on said shaft, the distributor resting on said collar; an air-fan fast on said shaft; a series of vertically mounted concentric cylinders of varying diameters between the fan and distributer; the motor casing discharging into the distributer and the distributer havmg a plurality of radial, lengthwisecham bered arms closed at their outer ends, and formed with liquid-escapes on their under sides; the main casing extending below the fan and above the distributer; a pan below the main casing; a fluid-escape conduit from the pan; and a conduit entering the motorcasing and discharging againstthe motorwheel therein.

10. In air-treating apparatus, the combination of a motor-wheel casing having an interior antiswirling plate and a fluid-discharge :-,on; its under side a motor-wheel within said casing; a shaft on which the motor-wheel is fast; a fluid-distributer on said shaft, the traitor-wheel casing discharging into the distributer; means for supporting the dis tributer on said shaft, the distributer bein driven by frictional connection with the shaft and having a radial, lengthwise-chambered distributing-arm formed with a fluid-escape a series of plates separated one from the other, and over and between which the fluid from the distributer flows; an air-fan fast on said shaft; the plates being between the distributer and the fan; a pan below the fan; an air-escape passage above the pan; and means in the air-escape passage to prevent outward spattering of fluid while permitting the escape of air through said passage.

11. In air-treating apparatus, the combination of a shaft; a motor-wheel fixed thereon; an air-fan fixed thereon; a fluid-receiving distributer loose thereon but in frictional connection therewith and thereby rotatable at a speed less than that of the motor and fan;

a series of separated non-absorbent plates between the distributer and fan, and over and between which the distributer distributes; an open-ended main casing exterior to the distributer, the plates and the fan; means for rotating the motor; and means of supplying fluid to the distributer.

12. In air-treating apparatus, the combination of a shaft; a motor-wheel fast on it; an air-fan fast on it; a fluid-distributer mounted on it in frictional connection therewith and having lengthwise-chambered, radial arms, closed at their outer ends, and the arms each having a plurality of fluid-escapes between their outer and inner ends; and a series of plates spaced apart and mounted between the radial arms and air-fan means for rotating the motor-wheel; and means for supplying the distributer with fluid.

'13. The combination of a rotatable shaft; an air-fan fast thereon, and driven thereby; a liquid distributer loose on the shaft, and means for supplyingliquid to said distributer.

14. The combination of a rotatable shaft; an air-fan fast on the shaft, and thereby driven; a fluid-distributer loose on the shaft and comprising a central liquid-receiving cap and a plurality of lengthvnse-chambered radial distributing-tubes; means for supplying fluid to the distributer; and a series of concentric cylinders mounted endwise below the chstributer and receiving on their surfaces the fluid from the distributer.

15. The combination of a vented waterwheel casing having an outlet; a water-wheel shaft; a water-wheel fast on the shaft; a conduit for the wheel-driving current and entering the casing in operativeproximity to the waterwheel; a liquid distributer loose on said shaft, the water-wheel casing discharging into said distributer; and a series of concentric, endwise mounted cylinders below said distributerpthe distributer discharging thereon; and an air-fan fast on the-shaft.

16. The combination of the motor-wheel casing having interior, antiswirling plates; a motor-wheel within said casing; an air-fan; means for exposing fluid from said casing to distributer for distributing which the motor-wheel and fan are fixed; the

casing discharging the motorrdriving fluid to the distributing means which distribute it over the exposing means; and the fan causing air to travel over the fluid on the exposing means.

17. The combination of a vented waterwheel casing having an outlet; a water-wheel shaft; a water-wheel fast on the shaft; a conduit for the wheel-driving current and entering the casing in operative proximity to the water wheel; a li'quiddistributer loose on said shaft, the water-wheel easing discharging into said distributer; and a series of concentric, endwise mounted cylinders below said distributer,- the 'distributer discharging thereon; and an air-fan fast on the shaft, the fan expelling air from the apparatus and having laterally-inclined vanes; a series of bafflev plates opposite the outer ends of the vanes and set crosswise to the vanes.

18. The combination of a motor-wheel and its casing witha rotatable shaft and a waterdistributer on the shaft, the distr'ibuter travcling at a speed less than that of the shaft.

19. The combination of the outer casing with a troughed support therefor having fluid-discharge outlets; a shaft; an air-fan fast on the shaft; plates within the casing on which fluid is exposed; means for supplying fluid to the plates; and means for rotating the shaft.

20. The combination of a shaft; means for rotating it; an air-fan fast on the shaft; a casing Within which the shaft and fan are contained; means within the casing for exposing fluid to air caused by the fan to travel downward-1y through the easingya fluid-distributer frictionally driven from said shaft; a pan be low the casing, leaving an air-escape space between the lower end of the casing and the upper edge of the pan for the outward escape of air from the casing; a cone-like support within the pan and above the upper portion ofwhich the casing is supported, the wallsof the support inclining downwardly and outwardly; an air-deflector extending upwardly from within and outwardly of the pan; an upwardly and outwardly extending flange at the lower end of the casing, the air-escape.

passage being between said deflector and flange; and means in said passage to permit the exit of .air'through and to prevent fluid from spattering outwardly therethrough.

21. The combination of the outer casing; the troughed support therefor; an air-suction fan within the casing and near the troughed support; the air-deflecting flanges one above the other at a distance apart; a series of battleplates. arranged edgewise in said space betweensaid flanges; and 'a series of downwardl '-extending fluid-escape tubes opening out 0 said' trough.

Intestimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

- FREDERICK WHITE.

Witnesses:

W. E; OovENEY, EDWARD S, BEACH. 

